Goolsby Family

Marietta Fun!

2009-09-10T15:41:00.002-05:00

Will and I took a last minute trip to Marietta while Jon was in California. Needless to say, little man thoroughly enjoyed himself (as did his mom!!). Webb is growing so fast, and the boys "played" together...we think. Our friend Livie provided lots of entertainment, esp at the water table. We took Will and Webb to their first Marietta High football game (for one quarter), but they looked so cute with Mom and Dad and their matching blue devil tshirts. We had a great time!

Prayer

2009-08-25T19:41:00.002-05:00

Jon and I were in the guest room playing with Will tonight - we looked away for 10 seconds and found him kneeling, thumbing through Jon's miniature Bible on top of a stool in the closet. It was the sweetest, and we grabbed the camera. Of course, he then threw the Bible at us and started jumping on the ottoman..but I'm sure it was just the excitement of God's Word and not disobedience.

Thank you Jessica and Matt for the large OSU shirt for Will - he loves it (well, his dad loves to put it on him).

(PS - Haircut is already scheduled for tomorrow...no worries grandparents!)

GFFL Draft 2009

2009-08-20T19:53:00.003-05:00

We traveled to Dallas last weekend for a Goolsby Family Tradition - the Fantasy Football Draft. Why do online @ yahoo what you can do in person after a 4 hour car ride? Three dads and their 5 sons gather every year to select their fantasy football teams after a day of shopping and dining with their families. (Aren't they nice to include us?) This year, the event began with a tour (guys only) of the new Dallas Cowboys Stadium. I think it was impressive considering the scoreboard alone cost more than the former stadium...recession? And yes, all of the guys now have matching collared shirts with the GFFL logo on them. Nothing is too good for this league. I promise Will and I were there - we were just too busy studying our stats and players to leave the hotel room. Jon's team better bring home that trophy this year! Go Goosebumps!

Back to Reality

2009-08-13T13:13:00.004-05:00

Life has returned somewhat to normal with haircuts, dr. appts, scrapbooking and baking cookies for a much needed road trip to Dallas. We miss Olivia and Letitia greatly - they have emailed every day, sometimes 2-3 times, and we are thankful!! Little Will is enjoying having Mom and Dad all to himself. =) The girls left so many gifts, but I forgot to get more pictures of the gifts with them. Jon is displaying the fan from Chengdu and Will is playing with his new Chinese drum. They brought a boy drum and a girl drum and said, "we wish for you a girl!" No pressure! I also received a set of traditional chopsticks, 2 pashminas (sp?), panda bear postcards and beautiful trinkets for my cell phone.

Final Hours of FUN!

2009-08-05T20:25:00.008-05:00

Olivia and Letitia will depart from the Church tomorrow morning at 5am, and we are really sad to see them leave. It has been a great experience and one we want to repeat often. It taught me more about the love of Christ than most experiences in my life. God loves His people. We gave the girls a few gifts last night, shared our hearts regarding the gospel and they were in tears. Jon was amazing and we had a sweet, sweet prayer time with them. We were speechless at their emotion and grateful for everything they have taught us this summer.

Last night was a big dinner at the Taste of Texas steakhouse - a must if you are ever in Houston. They enjoyed it and all received a red bandana. After school today, we stopped by cheer practice at Second Baptist School so the girls could see them dance....and take pictures. One last trip to the mall, but the girls had to settle for Payless Shoe Store since their cash flow is diminishing!! HA - welcome to our world, girls! Couldn't resist a few pics of my little man waiting "patiently" at every venue. The kids had a talent show today, but the pictures are too dark...and really, you just had to be there in person to appreciate an interpretive dance to High School Musical performed by Chinese students....or the opening number, We are the World. It made my week! Pray for our sweet girls as they travel one more week in California and head back to Chengdu, China. We are crazy about them! Thanks for enjoying our journey with them.

Shopping and Astros...

2009-08-04T13:43:00.003-05:00

Our time is winding down with Olivia and Letitia and we're all sad (I've had the sweetest help with Will for 2 weeks!). We spent yesterday with Jon and Will at the outlet malls and had a blast. Will entertained the girls if we ever lingered too long in a store. Jon helped the girls pick out clothes for their cousins and fathers back home...hilarious! All of the host families and students went to the Astros game last night...and we stayed til the bitter end (thus the empty stands!) hoping to see just ONE more homerun. Everyone had a great time.

Family Lunch & Closing Ceremony Hoedown

2009-08-02T21:23:00.005-05:00

We spent the afternoon at Aunt Becky and Uncle Mac's house enjoying a yummy meal. The girls were so curious about the tree face in their yard, so we took pictures...of course. Their friend, Charlie, stopped by to visit with the girls because he has spent much time in China. They really enjoyed his pictures and stories. We ended the night with a fun hoedown with all the host families and Chinese students. We had a BBQ dinner, square dance and closing ceremony. Will is still smiling through it all (except for his new trick of plugging up his ears if it's too loud or if he's bored). Shhhhh...don't tell, we're skipping school tomorrow and having "family day" with Jon and Will at the outlet malls. The girls said, "FABULOUS!" when we told them. Astros game is tomorrow night after they play hooky. No scrapbooking tonight - off to bed early!

Eat More Chicken!

2009-08-01T20:57:00.006-05:00

After a great morning trip to the Houston Zoo (and a 3 hour nap from Will AND the girls - yea!) we met some families at Jon's Chick-fil-a for dinner and a kitchen tour. It was a blast and as usual, many photo opportunities were seized. The girls are working on scrapbooks again tonight. Tomorrow is the closing ceremony (aka Texas Hoedown!) after a family lunch at Aunt Becky and Uncle Mac's. We are sad thinking of the girls leaving this Thursday!

Yao Ming and State Park

2009-07-31T20:48:00.009-05:00

Last night we took a trip to Brazos Bend State Park for a picnic. The students enjoyed KFC and fresh watermelon. We celebrated the weekend with dinner at Yao Ming's tonight with several Chinese students and families. Everyone is glad it's the weekend! We're off to work more on the scrapbooks and hit the zoo in the morning.

Scrapbooks!

2009-07-30T13:04:00.005-05:00

Olivia and Letitia have been working very hard on their scrapbooks. Two school nights this week, they worked for roughly 3 hours and are very proud of their pages. After school one day, we met some friends at Voss Yogurt for a snack....I think Will had the most "snack." Jon picked the girls up one day and took them to buy flowers for me. They thought we were crazy and SO romantic. (I don't have the heart to tell them it's a rare occasion!) The girls picked them out, arranged them, then presented them to me and said, "Thanks Mom! We love you!" There is a flower for each of the girls and me, but the baby's breath represents Jon. HA! The water equals love they told me. We have big plans for the next few days - a trip to Brazos Bend State Park tonight, Yao Ming's restaurant tomorrow and the zoo on Saturday! Stay tuned. Check out their great artwork (and a picture combination for everything!)...

Sunday in Galveston

2009-07-27T12:45:00.005-05:00

Will's grandmother, Suzie, was in town for the weekend with her family, so Jon and I took Olivia and Letitia to Galveston for the afternoon. They had a BLAST! We went to the Aquarium and took pictures of every animal, even the stuffed ones in the gift shop. On the beach, we had to take 100 "family photos." It was extremely windy (as seen in the pictures), but the girls kept telling me my hair was "so sexy." Nice. So please ignore the wind-blown Americans and see the smiling Chinese faces. =) We wore them out.

A Galleria Weekend!

2009-07-26T08:02:00.003-05:00

The girls have shopped til they dropped this weekend...and still want to shop some more! Will's grandmother, Suzie and her sister, Amy and her two girls, Allyson and Sarah joined us for the weekend and the shopping extravaganza. The girls loved the GAP and Victoria Secret the best. We finished the day with a trip to Build-a-Bear and they LOVED all of the choices in clothes. The store closed at 9pm, and the girls asked to come back for a 2nd bear this week! Olivia's bear is named Will and is dressed in a USA outfit so the bear can protect her. Letitia's bear is named Giggle because that is what Will's bear is named and is also dressed in American colors. My girlfriends met us for some of the shopping and were most helpful in helping Olivia and Letitia chose their "sleep clothes" at Victoria Secret. =) Friday night we played games and had a large pizza with other Chinese friends. We're headed to the beach today after church and then plan on working on scrapbooks. We spent 2 hours at Hobby Lobby looking at supplies!

High School Musical and Game Night

2009-07-23T22:15:00.004-05:00

Letitia and Olivia invited Emerald, Tina and Manny over after school to watch High School Musical...I did my best to answer all of their questions regarding the characters in the movie. Will enjoyed the movie, too...I think because the girls kept him quiet with one bite of cookie after another. Then, Tina and Emerald stayed for dinner when James, Steve, Jack and Joseph joined us for lasagna. The boys brought me a basket of fruit for hosting dinner! Anne Barnes and Lauren taught them how to play farkle with dice...it was a BIG hit. Olivia and Letitia were proud to share their chocolate chip cookies. =) Another highlight from the day was the gift the girls received at school - Chinese Bibles. They asked to see mine and then wanted to take pictures with me and the Bibles since they are "special." Great conversation followed. Good times!

Youth Group & Cookies

2009-07-22T21:38:00.004-05:00

Olivia and Letitia stayed at school today with the other Chinese students to attend youth group tonight. When Will and I arrived to pick them up, it was a party! The students were playing cards, pool, ping pong and volleyball. When we came home, the girls and I made homemade chocolate chip cookies (thanks sis, for the recipe). They thought the cookies were "very delicious" and watched every batch bake from the floor in front of the oven. Then, they said America is so exciting! I'll remember that next time I'm tired of cooking....that it is instead "so exciting."

Field Trip and Ranelle 7/21/09

2009-07-21T22:23:00.003-05:00

Olivia and Letitia enjoyed their first field trip at school today. They toured the Toyota Center, Rice University, General Consulate and Museum of Natural Science. They were very tired and went to bed really early! Ranelle joined us for dinner and the girls loved chatting with her. Before we knew it, they had gone upstairs to each give her a present! These girls are so thoughtful and kind. They are really excited about the badminton tournament tomorrow! Below are a few pictures Olivia took on the trip today and loaded them to my computer - she is really smart!

First Day of Classes and Taco Night!

2009-07-20T23:03:00.007-05:00

Olivia and Letitia started American classes today and learned about the history and geography of the United States. They came home very excited to start a scrapbook (another lesson from class), so after a trip to Sonic, we went to Michael's to get ideas for a scrapbook. They studied Will's book and gathered more ideas. The highlight was cooking a meal for the family. They helped me get taco night ready and enjoyed the fruits of their labor. They told me they want to cook every night now. I have enjoyed answering their many questions about America, especially about our church, Jesus and prayer. We love these girls!

Sunday 7/19/2009

2009-07-19T21:18:00.004-05:00

After Bible Study with other American teenagers, Letitia and Olivia went to worship at church with Jon and Emily. We ate lunch at home and then went shopping with Emerald and Tina, also students from China. We spent a lot of time in Forever 21 (XXI) and shoe stores. Tonight, we went to the Barnes for a steak dinner and dominos. Before dinner, Mr. Bruce taught the students how to play football, and Letitia scored a touchdown! The students start class tomorrow, so everyone is in bed. The girls are very sweet, intelligent and kind.

Meet Olivia and Letitia

2009-07-18T22:42:00.003-05:00

Letitia and Olivia (the girl in glasses) arrived in Houston tonight. We had a great opening ceremony and heard from the Chinese teachers. The girls love Will and told us they are so lucky to have a baby in their host home. They chased and followed him all night and were very kind to him. They took lots of pictures of him. Here are Ann and Bruce Barnes with their four boys and a few of Letitia and Olivia. We are excited they are here!

Fourth of July!

2009-07-09T11:37:00.005-05:00

We had a great week in Marietta for the Fourth of July! The boys did great on the square for fireworks. I'm not sure what all Will ate, but he continued to pick off of Granmer and Pop's plates. We had his little lovie close at hand during the fireworks, and he seemed somewhat interested. Webb is growing so fast and has THE cutest smile. Will wasn't a fan of me or Granmer holding Webb...but he did ok when he had the remote. He was so wiped out today and slept til 9:15 AND took a 3 hour nap. He has figured out how to move the bumper pad all around and then just crashes. More posts to come this month as 2 sweet Chinese students live with us for 3 weeks for an exchange program. We'll be updating almost daily when they are here so their parents can keep up.

For the Peerless Ladies and Uncle Joe....

2009-06-29T15:45:00.005-05:00

Here are a few updated pics of the fam. Will spent a week with Granmer, Pop, Sissy, Uncle B and Webb (whom Will tackled a few times). He loved playing with Livie and David at the Hunters and pool hopping in Marietta. Here is an attempt at a Father's Day pic for Dad. The photo shoot was interrupted slightly when Will popped Webb on the head...so Will got popped on the hand and it was down hill from there. He also tried to pull Webb down from his bumbo seat...I'm sure they'll be best friends. We love the 3 generations pic (minus Jon :( ) even though Will was "patting" Big Pop's head. Happy Summer!

Night Night

2009-04-30T19:17:00.002-05:00

Too Many Toys, Too Little Time

2009-04-23T20:13:00.006-05:00

Will had quite the birthday week of celebrations. He is in heaven with all the new (loud and multiple pieces) toys. Really, thank you! A big shout out to Sis who made Will's cake with such love (and precision) and one handed. We are so thankful for this healthy, happy little boy. What a year!

Thank you God for William Paul

2009-04-16T21:53:00.002-05:00

We are rejoicing and thanking God for this miracle. What a joy! Happy Birthday Little Man. We are crazy about you. Mom and Dad

A Marietta Easter

2009-04-14T21:18:00.003-05:00

Will and his parents had the best weekend in Marietta. Will and our favorite cousin, Webb, were the hit of all the parties. (And Jon and Brandon finally put an end to the matching outfits.) Will did great on the Easter egg hunt and loved the birthday celebrations (more pics to come on the actual birthday - and when I can download them all) and loved having Easter at Sissy and Brandon's church. PS - who is the most talented sis? She can ice a cake while holding her 3 month old...amazing! Thanks for the best time and all the treasures, Grandmer and Pop. We love you!

"Practice" Easter Egg Hunt

2009-04-09T13:29:00.003-05:00

Will enjoyed his first Easter egg hunt today with his three little classmates. He was rather focused on the eggs and not sure what to do with them. His teacher Ya-Ya helped out and Will just adores her. He also loved that Dad stopped by for the fun and didn't want to see him go. We can't wait for the Marietta Easter fun!

11 Months!

2009-03-17T11:16:00.004-05:00

To quote every other mother in the world...I can't believe he's almost a year old. We pinned the 11 month card on his chest so he wouldn't notice. I found Will asleep in the picture below and grabbed the camera. The kid takes after his dad and sleeps all over the place. He has outgrown all his pjs just this week because he's so tall. First "haircut" just to get it out of his eyes. Can't wait for the one year festivities!

At the Park

2009-03-04T19:31:00.005-06:00

It's not snowing or cold in Houston like it is in Georgia and Oklahoma....so we've been taking Will to the park after school. He loves being outside. So close to walking!!

Growing up too Fast!

2009-02-26T21:18:00.005-06:00

Will is growing much too fast for us. He is a whirl of constant energy and growing like a weed (just note his hair!). We attempted 10 month pictures, and Will continued to crumble the paper and throw it down...appropriate for a ten month old, I guess. He loves playing at home and at school especially if he can bang things over and over. We love it! It's a shame he's not happier with life.... =)

Will Meets Webb

2009-01-21T19:09:00.004-06:00

We all fell in love with another man this weekend. Webb was even more handsome in person, and Will tried to pat him every chance he could. Mer and Pop sure do love their boys!

Cousins...too good to be true.

2009-01-13T19:30:00.001-06:00

Entertaining a Sick Baby

2009-01-11T11:50:00.003-06:00

Will has been stuck in the house for a few days with a cold/cough, so we are running out of places to entertain him. He climbed right up this chest and pulled things off the computer desk. s Era4w q d (Will just typed that for me!) Here's hoping for a healthy week!

It's a BOY!!

2009-01-09T13:20:00.003-06:00

Molly and Brandon welcomed Spencer "Webb" Scarbrough to our family last night (early morning!). He weighed 8 lbs and 3 oz and is 21 inches long. Sissy and Webb are doing great! Will was so excited about his new cousin, he pulled his entire mobile of bears down and told them all about Webb. He then fell asleep with the bears. We can't wait for these two to be best buds. We love you Webb!!

8 Months Old

2009-01-05T21:38:00.002-06:00

The 8 month old pictures are just in time for the 9 month pictures in less than 10 days....but whatever ~ We love this little man....he is standing on his own, crawling fast and furiously all over the place, saying mamama and dadadada, laughs all the time at funny noises and challenges the best of us at changing his clothes. He is all dressed up because he is ready to head to Marietta and meet a cousin....IF the cousin ever chooses to join the world. :) We can't wait for Baby Scarbs to be here!

Christmas 2008

2008-12-26T17:17:00.005-06:00

We had a great time at the Gilger's for Christmas celebrating with all the Goolsbys!

Highlights:

*Will eating his first Christmas "meal" (more like smashing the potatoes and smearing them on everything)

*Washers Tournaments with the Goolsby/Gilger Men

*Aunt Becky and Uncle Mac's AMAZING hospitality

*New rocking horse and chair from Santa Suzie and Paul (notice Jon putting it together :)

*Meeting cousin Ari (wish Matt could have joined us)

*Memorable GOLF card games......

Thank you for EVERYTHING!

No Wonder it was so Quiet....

2008-12-20T18:43:00.004-06:00

Will was particularly quiet this morning after his nap...I kept looking at the video monitor and finally figured out what he was doing. He had removed his bears mobile from the top of his crib and was talking to the bears. I'm sure he was saying his new favorite word....GO! Just about everything in the house has been put up except the beds and the eating utensils. Little man is on the GO!

Christmas Came Early!!

2008-12-16T17:26:00.003-06:00

Will had a visit with Santa this weekend and then magically gifts from Georgia appeared! We couldn't believe all the fun wrapped presents that came from GrandMer and Pop. Thank you!! The favorite (not-so-favorite yet) was the inflatable Thomas the Train with lots of balls. Will isn't quite sure what to make of it - He was much more interested in the ribbon on all the packaging. Merry Christmas!

Family Fun at Thanksgiving!

2008-12-08T22:11:00.009-06:00

Will had a great Thanksgiving in Marietta this year! We saw all of my cousins and their kids and thoroughly enjoyed cousins Natalie and Davis dressing up as pilgrims...doesn't get much better. It's always fun to see Will with Big Pop. He also picked up a new hobby with GrandMer's toys...dancing! Aunt Sissy isn't in any of these pictures because she was taking most of them (AND looks great at 8+ months pregnant!). We are counting the days until Will's cousin is here!! Thanks GrandMer and Pop for decorating your house for Christmas...it was like two holidays in one weekend! We love you!!

It's Beginning to look a lot like Christmas....

2008-11-30T19:39:00.001-06:00

My Little Indian!

2008-11-19T17:41:00.003-06:00

Will's teacher at school made an Indian headdress for the 4 babies in his class! It was a hoot to see him today. Check him out on the bye bye buggy that strolls around campus with the cute babies.

Also, we are in the process of "baby proofing" the house - so enjoy the picture of Will toppling the glass basket full of mints onto the floor. He certainly enjoyed himself.

Fun with the Goolsbys!

2008-11-12T16:54:00.003-06:00

Suzie and Paul made a trip to Houston to hang out with Will (and Em and Jon, too!). We had a blast and tried our best to keep up with this very mobile little man. Will crawled, jumped, pulled up and rolled all over the place all weekend. So glad they could come. Thanks for everything!! See ya soon!

Good times...

2008-11-05T18:04:00.003-06:00

Will is enjoying life more and more each day. I am particularly fond of his new trick...waving and saying mamamamama. He made a visit to the Second Baptist School football game (for all of 20 minutes) and managed to pose with the senior cheerleaders (girls I have coached/taught since 5th grade!). They gave him a little stuffed SBS eagle, but he was already out for the night. We did trim up the hair a little on the sides...see if you can see which picture reflects the hair cut! Can't wait to see Suzie and Paul this weekend!

BUSTED!

2008-10-31T17:07:00.004-05:00

Will has been investigating his crib lately during nap time...plotting ways to escape. I was about to post the pictures of him in navy from yesterday when I walked into his room to find him staring at me, pulled up in the crib. I think we've gone mobile...watch out! Check out the new Halloween pajamas from his teachers at school. All 4 little classmates had them on today. Happy Fall!

Pumpkin Patch

2008-10-25T13:46:00.001-05:00

Georgia on my Mind...

2008-10-22T21:26:00.003-05:00

We traveled to Marietta for Fall Break this past weekend and could not find anyone to play or love on Will. =) Someone even let him beat up and play with Bailey (mom's dog) without me knowing! Poor Bailey. It was a little reminiscent of sissy always dressing up our dog, Miss Gertie. Love ya sis! PS - Don't the GREAT grandparents look great? Thanks again Mom for the new school clothes and babysitting!

My New Favorite Date....

2008-10-21T17:41:00.004-05:00

I have come to love October 21 as my new favorite date. Jon and I were married two years ago today, went to Disney World one year ago today and now hold a 6 month old baby today! It makes me tired and thankful all at once. I can't imagine my life without Jon and love thinking about October 21 in the years to come.

That's What Friends are For?

2008-10-16T18:19:00.003-05:00

My dear friends from Kanakuk gave Will this lovely "house o noise" when he was born. Obviously he couldn't use it until recently. So, I put it together (2 hours and 65 little screws later) and it does NOTHING but make all sorts of noise. The good thing is Will figured out today that the door opens and closes and sings a fun song each time! He loves it - so thanks, friends...I guess! =) And does that smiling baby look like a child who has a horrible cough/cold? Even sick, that child is giggling and laughing! Love it....

Our Favorite Things

2008-10-08T22:34:00.003-05:00

As Will approaches the six month mark....here are his latest favorite things. The camera turned toy in his crib (gives us a GREAT nauseating view on the monitor and has now been removed from the crib)...his enormous stuffed horse and his FOOD. We can't get the spoon to his mouth fast enough!

Come Back SOON!

2008-10-05T17:49:00.005-05:00

We had the best weekend with Sissy and Uncle Brandon. Will thought Uncle Brandon was the funniest thing ever and had a great time bonding with his cousin to be. (Sorry sis if he beat a little too much on the baby!) They were a proud aunt/uncle in the congregation as Will attended his Bible dedication. We managed to also squeeze in SBS homecoming (only one picture of Will in his school colors!) and a Third Day concert. Thanks for coming all this way Sissy and B. We miss you already!!

Fun with the Gilgers!

2008-10-02T07:35:00.002-05:00

We enjoyed a fun meal with Aunt Becky, Uncle Mac, Mrs. Gilger and our cousin Scott - who was in all the way from California! He was actually the one to get the biggest smile from Will. It was a great time - enjoy the pics!

Home at Last!

2008-09-28T18:28:00.001-05:00

We Miss Dad!!

2008-09-26T20:01:00.001-05:00

Dear Dad,

You better come home soon because Will is ready for some football and Mom is ready for a NAP ~ We love you!!

Em and Will

3 Meals in a Row!

2008-09-23T19:46:00.004-05:00

Will is falling into a great routine at night. We've had 3 good meals in a row with yummy applesauce and bananas. He eats like I have never fed him in his life. He is thoroughly enjoying it! He is also getting the hang of "reading" a few books (or sitting patiently while Mom makes him listen.) Our favorite of course is Will, God's Mighty Warrior. Not to mention bath time as a highlight for little man. A shout out to Jon - we love and miss you!! Come home soon (or you just might find every closet and room empty and organized!!)

5 Months Old

2008-09-22T19:52:00.002-05:00

Will was traveling for Hurricane Ike on his 5 month birthday mark...so we're a little behind. But nonetheless he is super happy 90% of the time. He giggles and laughs and is on the verge of crawling. Maybe if Mom had put him in an AUBURN outfit, the real tigers would have won....at least UGA pulled through. Gee whiz, we hate LSU! Anyone else?

More Ike pics....

2008-09-21T14:56:00.004-05:00

Here are a few pics of IKE from Jon's phone. The tree on the car was right outside our townhome and the rest are from neighborhoods nearby. The foggy one is the front of our townhome (everyone closed their blinds, supposedly it keeps the debris from flying in if your windows break...whatever.) As you can see, Will loved the hotel as much as his mom did!!

We had Church outside today since the Worship Center is in such bad shape...it literally poured rain down on the pulpit. Waist deep water filled the place that seats thousands. I think next week we'll be in the gyms because it is Houston after all and fall is many days away.

Take a Hike IKE!

2008-09-19T20:49:00.004-05:00

Thank you for praying and asking how we were doing in the wake of Ike. Having experienced two hurricanes since living in Houston - we are at our limit! No need for "third time is a charm." First time, Jon and I both evacuated and sat in hours (turned to days) of traffic with roads closed, no water or gas for miles out of Houston as well as returning to the city. This time, knowing our home is on very high ground and miles from the coast, we decided to "hunker down" (as everyone now affectionately calls it) and stay at home. We were not in the evacuation zones and therefore pretty much told to stay put (as did all of our friends and families). We stocked up on food, water, batteries, formula and diapers. Ike did hit Galveston as a category 2 hurricane and made it to Houston with the same strength. The wind was unreal to listen to (thank you Jesus, Will slept through the entire thing!) and Sis and Brandon stayed up and watched the news for us after we lost power. Fortunately our home had no structural damage (just our neighbor's porch roof landed on our porch!) and we lost power like the other 3 million people in town. The next morning, downed trees and debris literally covered every street and yard. Jon ventured out the next morning and took some pictures we'll post later. We headed to safety (and power!!) near Dallas and then in Edmond with Jon's family until power was restored at home on Wednesday.

Things are starting to return to normal for Houston, but please continue to pray for Galveston....they have such a long way to go. School will start for Will and me again on Monday, but probably half of our school families are still without power. Our large worship center at Church took such a beating, we won't have worship there for 6-12 months. We are so fortunate and do not doubt for a second the MIGHT and POWER of the Lord. Jon and I would just stare at each other in amazement as the wind literally whipped the trees and buildings in a city so far inland. God is good and God is BIG. Thanks again for your prayers - here are pics of little man enjoying the road trip and the hotel room.

Pre/Post Stomach Bug

2008-09-09T17:07:00.004-05:00

Will has been fighting the stomach bug for a week now. Guess which picture is before the bug hit our house and which one is after (or more like during the bug still present). Little man is wiped out!

GFFL - A Goolsby Tradition

2008-09-02T20:42:00.005-05:00

We traveled to Dallas this weekend to fulfill a Goolsby tradition - the GFFL Fantasy Football Draft (est. in 1995). It was Will's first and we are confident his dad will win the coveted trophy this year. It was a great weekend and we are anticipating lots of smack talk in the coming weeks. Go Goosebumps!

First Meal/Last Supper

2008-08-26T17:21:00.002-05:00

There is a chance Will's first meal with rice cereal was also his last..... :)

A Visit From Mer & Pop!

2008-08-23T21:31:00.005-05:00

Mer and Pop came to visit for the weekend and Will was treated to all sorts of activities! His first (memorable) trip to the Taste of Texas (thank you Fancy for the perfect cowboy hat). and thanks to Sissy, Will received his first "dress up" outfit...a chicken costume. He surprisingly enjoyed wearing it. The trip was not complete without a dip in the pool and a round of Wii golf. See ya soon!

Happy 4 Months!!

2008-08-17T19:31:00.003-05:00

William Paul is four months old today and could not be happier about it! He smiles, laughs and giggles all the time (except in his entertainer when he is concentrating on the toys really hard!). We love seeing how our boy has grown...check out the month to month recap! We could not be more in love with this Prince Charming.

A Saturday Drive...

2008-08-02T11:54:00.003-05:00

The Last Hurrah!

2008-07-30T16:30:00.007-05:00

Jon and I were blessed to spend one last "hurrah" with Will at a friend's ranch house in Brenham. It was the perfect last minute get away for our little family before Will and Mom return to school/work. Enjoy the pictures, especially the one of my little man all dressed for school - it is Sissy's favorite. Thank you GrandMer for ALL of his new school clothes! (Posts will slow down considerably as we return to school and work!)

War Eagle!

2008-07-28T21:49:00.004-05:00

Clearly, Will figured out which college is really the best - WAR EAGLE! And the plane ride home from OKC was much smoother than Airport Drama 08 in Atlanta. He was much more content.

Exhausted....

2008-07-25T20:32:00.003-05:00

I think the heat, work and travels have worn out the Goolsby men....

Fun in Oklahoma

2008-07-23T21:44:00.006-05:00

Will was received with such love and excitement as we landed in Oklahoma. He was a trooper and put on quite a show for everyone and anyone who wanted to see his giggles. He was able to learn all about nintendo playstation from Uncle Joe, meet his Wolfe cousins and aunt/uncle, visit SuSu's work, celebrate Sarah's birthday, visit with his GREAT grandmommy, AND celebrate his grandparent Goolsby's wedding anniversary. Thanks for everything - we had a great time!

Funny Man

2008-07-19T07:38:00.004-05:00

I put Will down in one of his favorite play spots, his crib, while I ran his bath. I placed his favorite "lovie" (thank you Uncle Brandon!) across his legs so he could play with it. He loves to hold it close to his chest. I return to find this... I laughed so hard and grabbed the camera...he truly did this on his own. Good times ahead!

The Cutest Smile NEVER Caught on Camera....

2008-07-17T16:12:00.002-05:00

Our little man is three months old today and we're more in love than ever!! He giggles and laughs all the time and has the greatest, widest grin. HOWEVER, he will simply never let us get in on camera...here's the best we got today. He's been that way since Sissy tried to take his picture when he was 2 hours old. We'll take a happy baby any day! He gets longer and taller it seems like every hour. Here are the latest pics of Prince William!

Oklahoma or BUST!

2008-07-14T17:13:00.005-05:00

We're taking Will to Oklahoma for the first time this weekend. We'll see which team wins his heart first. What do you think? OSU or OU??

Hanging out at Home

2008-07-10T16:34:00.004-05:00

We are seeing so much more activity and action from little man when he is awake! He still sleeps a ton, but when he is awake, he's on the loose! Jon read him this classic Dr. Seuss book and Will loved it because Jon rapped the whole book instead of reading it! It was great!

July 4th at the Barnes

2008-07-08T08:43:00.005-05:00

We celebrated July 4th in SugarLand at the Barnes' house - it was a great night of food and Wii entertainment. Thanks Ann and Bruce for the great time!

Summer Fun in the Pool!

2008-07-03T09:10:00.005-05:00

Here are some pics of Will's first time swimming...he had a blast as soon as we took off that silly hat!

Two Months Old!!

2008-06-30T13:39:00.003-05:00

Prince Charming turned two months old recently and is TOO FUN! He keeps us laughing and guessing frequently. He sleeps great through the night, is in the 95th percentile for his height (no shock there!) and giggles all the time. Well....not during Airport Drama 08. (the pictures speak for themselves). Will is quite active and managed to pull his blanket up over his head and cover himself as he woke up one morning at GrandMer's house - quite the ham!

Europe or BUST!

2008-06-27T22:10:00.004-05:00

Sissy and Uncle Brandon leave for Europe this weekend and Will is sad. He loved all the attention they gave him while in Georgia. They had lots of practice taking care of a little one - which is a good thing - because they just might need it come January 7, 2009!!! We love you guys and pray for safe travel!!

Georgia on my Mind...

2008-06-24T14:39:00.005-05:00

Will is recovering great from the trip to Marietta to meet and greet everyone! He was able to meet ALL of his maternal GREAT grandparents! They were all smiles as they held him! He also met MaryMayes Durham for a semi-date. Our miracle cousin, Carys Dykes, also stopped by with her parents to meet Will and visit. Aunt Sissy tried to kidnap Will as we headed for the airport. Will's mom and dad might have let him stay with her a few more days if they'd known how he'd act in the airport! Will is worn out in his stroller because he chose to scream the entire way through security and the train to our gate. I think he was just missing all the attention! We miss everyone and are so grateful to Mom and Dad for the fabulous nursery and hospitality!! Em, Jon and Will

Marietta Loves Will!

2008-06-17T14:28:00.002-05:00

Will and his mom are having a blast in Marietta! Will has met ALL of the neighbors and cousins, aunts, uncles in town. He has been such a trooper and enjoyed every minute. He's sleeping great in his cute nursery GrandMer put together. He met a lot of friends at a special party just for him on Monday. It will be great to have Jon join us tomorrow for a fun-filled weekend.

Off to Georgia...

2008-06-11T22:30:00.004-05:00

Will and Emily leave for Marietta tomorrow and leave Dad at home to work and play his new Nintendo Wii. Some consolation, but they will be missed. Prince Charming even keeps us laughing when he is dead asleep...check it out.

Taming of the Hair

2008-06-09T13:39:00.002-05:00

This is our feeble attempt at getting Will's hair to lay down. Just a quick "comb over" after his bath. Let's just say neither of the Goolsby men are too fond of the look :-)

A little more expression

2008-06-07T20:33:00.005-05:00

We are seeing a little more personality these days. Will is quite the character and keeps us laughing and guessing! Enjoy the smiles...

Sweet Pea is Six Weeks Old!

2008-05-29T19:09:00.003-05:00

Will is six weeks old today and doing great~ he is beginning to smile at us and really develop a little personality (a dramatic one for sure!) We're so blessed!

That hair!!

2008-05-25T09:37:00.004-05:00

The most frequent comment/compliment Will receives is about his hair. To clarify....no, we are not adding any products to it to make it stand up like that. (Who has time for that??) and yes, his hair stays that way 24/7 - before his bath, after he wakes up, while he eats...it doesn't matter what or when, his hair sticks straight up and out, at least an inch from his head. And we LOVE it!! He is our little rock star....take a look!

Thank you SuSu!!

2008-05-22T09:43:00.004-05:00

Will and his parents had so much fun with SuSu this past week! We loved hanging out, shopping at the outlet mall and midnight feedings! Thank you for everything you did for us, SuSu! We are all three praying for Granny, Suzie's mom, as she recovers from hip surgery this morning. We love you!

Couldn't resist...

2008-05-20T17:23:00.005-05:00

Will usually has no trouble falling asleep for naps - today, however, he wasn't quite ready to go down. When he finally did, this is how he slept! He has a tendency to wear himself out (just like his daddy!) Enjoy the other pictures of the Prince we just couldn't resist sharing.

More Pictures of the Prince!

2008-05-19T12:48:00.010-05:00

Will seems to change more and more every day. Here are more pictures of the new Prince Charming in the Goolsby home - don't worry, Dad is still King! Enjoy...

One Month!

2008-05-18T18:38:00.002-05:00

Will has officially celebrated his one month of life! We had all sorts of festivities like bottle feeding, nap time, car seat rides, tummy time, a Chick-fil-A appearance and many more thrill rides. Here are a few pics of his celebration.

We Miss GrandMer!!

2008-05-13T11:29:00.005-05:00

We miss you Grand Mer!! Will is looking aimlessly around all the time looking for his Grand Mer - and Will's mom and dad haven't eaten as well since she's been gone!! We're trying to survive and hope SuSu gets here soon because we miss our grandmothers!! Thanks Grand Mer for walking, feeding, changing, cleaning, organizing and loving on Will and his parents - we'll never forget the good times!! (And please don't try to steal Will again - note the picture of Em's parents trying to run away to the airport from the hospital with Will!!)

Happy Mother's Day Emily!

2008-05-11T22:04:00.006-05:00

Today we celebrated our family's first mother's day. It was a great day of relaxing and enjoying the comfort of our wonderful home. Nothing flashy (well except for those two new things in her ears...) just a great day with the 3 of us. I have never been more proud to see Emily as a mommy and as a wife. Happy first mother's day Emily! You are amazing!

Love, Jon

PS...Happy Mother's Day SuSu and GrandMer

Three Weeks Old!

2008-05-07T21:25:00.009-05:00

Will is three weeks old and doing great! He is more active every day and keeps us laughing all the time. Enjoy the pictures of our growing little man...

Happy Birthday Uncle Joe!

2008-05-05T10:23:00.001-05:00

I wanted to make sure Uncle Joe knew I was thinking about him on his 20th birthday! It was so good to meet you a few weeks ago and I hope that I can be as awesome as you are someday.

Love you Uncle!

Will

Photo Shoot

2008-05-04T17:29:00.012-05:00

While I was hard at work on Saturday Emily and GrandMer dressed Will up and took several photos. I really appreciated the last photo and that after he was "dressed up" he then was able to get into his baseball gear. I hope all of you will enjoy the great pictures and continue to pray for the new Goolsby family as we continue to grow and adjust to this incredible gift.

Pop & Papa

2008-05-02T17:04:00.011-05:00

Will's name comes from two very important people in his life - BOTH of his grandfathers. William is Emily's dad's name and Paul is Jon's dad. We never struggled with boy names because we knew right away we wanted to honor these two fabulous men in Will's life. Emily's dad never had boys, so it's really fun to see the elder William (aka Pop, II) hold his grandson, Will. Enjoy the pics....

Days at Home

2008-04-28T17:39:00.011-05:00

Will is enjoying his days at home with GrandMer, Mom and Dad. We love fighting over feeding him - we're pretty smitten with him! Here are some pics from the days at home. We couldn't do it without GrandMer and our sweet friends and family praying for Em's recovery and Will's health. We love this boy!

Will's Friends

2008-04-27T10:17:00.014-05:00

Will has no idea how many "aunts" and "uncles" he has outside of his awesome family. We've loved the friends who have stopped by to love on and meet our boy! Here are just a few...

Back to Work...

2008-04-25T19:06:00.008-05:00

Well today was the day when I headed back to work and left Emily and Will at home. As I left Emily was putting him down with her for another classic midmorning nap. As I went to work I was able to brag on Emily and show all the great pictures of Will. Everyone continued to comment about how good looking he was but they also added that he must have gotten it from his momma (TRUE.). Needless to say it was tough being away from them for the day but at some point all vacations must end. Here is the token Chick-fil-A picture and a few others from Will's first week of life.

A Day of First's

2008-04-24T22:23:00.009-05:00

Today Will experienced several first's in his life...

...first outdoor photo

...first time to the pediatrician

...first time for a bath

...first day to wear OSU gear

There will be many more first's but we are thankful to report that Will got "2 thumbs up" from the doc and we did find out that Will is in the 90% of height (good genes).

Swinging Away...

2008-04-23T21:13:00.007-05:00

Today Will got his first taste of the wonderful swing downstairs. After a delicious meal from mommy we sat him in the swing just to see what would happen...20+ minutes later he was still there smiling. Here are a few pics from that swing time and maybe here in a few months he will be swinging either a golf club (for Pop in Georgia) or a bat (for Papa in Edmond). We love all of you and thanks again for your prayers and support as we continue to learn on the job.

Best Nap Ever.

2008-04-22T20:46:00.007-05:00

So each of the last two days at home in the midst of the feeding, crying, sleeping and whatever else (I don't remember because I was either half awake or half asleep...) we have been able to take a sweet mid-morning nap with Will. There he was a swaddled up on a pillow and sleeping in between the two of us. Emily and I couldn't stop staring at God's precious gift to us. Here are a few pics from that memorable moment and a few others for your enjoyment (Please no comments about the last photo...Thanks).

Our Families...

2008-04-20T20:12:00.011-05:00

Over the last 4 days Emily and I have been blessed with the company of the people we love the most. Our parents and siblings (Molly & Joe) have been a constant source of joy and love. We could not have done it without the support of them...here are some great pictures. Thanks for coming all the way from Georgia and Oklahoma to welcome Will into our world. We love you so much and wish you could still be here. Thanks to Grand Mere for staying and we look forward to Sue Sue coming in May. The Granddad's need to make a "business" trip to Houston to come and teach their grandson the ropes on their sport of choice. Aunt Molly, Uncle Brandon and Uncle Joe need to get here for some Aunt and Uncle fun. We love all of you guys more that you could ever know! Thanks...Love!

First Family Foto...

2008-04-18T23:23:00.003-05:00

There we are...less that 5 minutes after William Paul entered our world. It has been such a blast to have everyone together and we could not have made it without everyones prayers and support. Within minutes of his arrival the news was spreading of this precious gift. Aunt Molly has put together some great photo's so please enjoy...
Slideshow 1
Slideshow 2
More to come tomorrow...hopefully from our house!

Its A Boy!

2008-04-17T20:09:00.003-05:00

This is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it!

William Paul Goolsby was born at 1:12pm today! He weighs 8 pounds and 5 ounces and is 21.25 inches long. Emily is doing great and the grandparents could not be more proud. Aunt Molly as captured several great pics from the day but here are a few of the best.

Just The Two Of Us...

2008-04-15T22:44:00.004-05:00

As I drove home today from work it was hard to believe where I would be in 24 hours. Today Emily ran a few errands and got her nails done (thanks Laura Suffield!) all in preparation for tomorrow. So tonight as we spend one last night at home as a family of 2, we are so eager for the next 36-48 hours. Tomorrow night we pick up Emily's parents and sis at the airport and then meet my family for one last meal before we check into the hospital. Thursday morning we will wake up (hopefully) and begin the day as a family of 2 and end as a family of 3. Please pray for us and the baby as we go through this life changing moment. We are reminded that God is sovereign and over all circumstances and that gives us peace as we journey into the unknown. We will be back soon...